BEYOND BUDGET

Assalamu alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

Last week, I had the honor and privilege of joining the symposium commemorating the 10th Anniversary of the Signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB) held in Tokyo, Japan. Hosted by the Government of Japan (GOJ) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), it provided an opportunity for the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and the Bangsamoro Transition Authority to review the progress of the peace process and the efforts we have made over the past decade.

The CAB, signed in 2014, marks the culmination of 17 years of negotiations between the national government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF). During the commemoration ceremony held in April, President Bongbong Marcos (PBBM) emphasized the transformative power of peace and his administration's commitment to supporting the peace process, saying, peace is won “when the bloody tally of war is replaced by the scoreboard of development.”

Accomplishments

At the symposium, I shared several accomplishments and prospects for peace, stability, development, and growth in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) since the signing of the CAB.

As you know, the National Government-Bangsamoro Government Intergovernmental Relations Body (IGRB), which I co-chair with BARMM Minister Mohagher Iqbal, has activated the seven mechanisms under the Bangsamoro Organic Law to ensure effective and constant consultation between the two governments. And just recently, we turned over to PBBM the Third IGRB Progress Report, showcasing its hard work and progress with respect to BARMM's transition to autonomy.

Toward sustaining peace and stability in the region, the budget for the Normalization Program for BARMM, which aims to uplift the conditions of former MILF combatants, their families, and communities has grown from $4.0 million (¥579.2 million) in 2015 to $15.8 million [¥2.29 billion] in 2024.This translates to an average increase of 200 percent over the past 10 years. And in our proposed fiscal year (FY) 2025 national budget, we allotted $16 million (¥2.35 billion) exclusively to implement this program.

The GPH likewise supports the normalization process through its education and social services programs such as our livelihood assistance called Tulong Pang hanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program, our Basic Education Facilities Program, and the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education. These are on top of the $1.66 billion (¥243.35 billion) FY 2025 allocation — 17 percent higher than this year’s budget — to support the region.

Still toward promoting peace and as part of my advocacy on women's inclusion, especially in peace and security discussions, I also proudly shared that our National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (WPS), launched in 2010, now includes a 10-year approach, i.e., from 2023 to 2033 — a testament to the decade-long commitment and long-term vision of the Philippines on WPS.

Partnership with Japan and JICA

In forwarding all these, we are grateful to the partnership we built with Japan and JICA, which supported not only the peace process, but also infrastructure development, energy security, and good governance in BARMM. JICA staunchly supported development in Mindanao since the 1990s, and further strengthened it through the launch of the Japan-Bangsamoro Initiatives for Reconstruction and Development in 2006.

Recent significant programs and projects, among others, are the capacity building on Public Financial Management (PFM), which enhanced the competencies of 356 PFM practitioners in BARMM to help establish a sound PFM system, and the Non-Project Grant Aid for the acquisition of $6.8 million (¥996.85 million) worth of construction equipment for road network improvement and disaster quick response operations.

On the sidelines of the symposium, I met with JICA President Dr. Tanaka Akihiko who discussed the importance of promoting collaboration with stakeholders in the development process. He emphasized the term “co-creation.” Thus, I shared the co-creation strategy we have in the IGRB, as well PBBM’s instruction during the turnover of the Third IGRB Progress report to draft a manual of operations for continuity purposes. Additionally, a similar co-creation strategy exists in our Open Government Partnership which institutionalized citizen participation in government processes. I also met with Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko where we reviewed the Mindanao peace process and explored strengthening our PFM efforts.

Truly, we have a lot of things in store for the region. The first elections for the BARMM Parliament, scheduled for May 2025, will be a historic democratic moment, marking a significant step toward its full autonomy and self-governance. With peace and stability as a foundation, I am positive that a brighter BARMM will see more opportunities for economic development and investments toward a brighter tomorrow for the present and future generations.
Beyond budget, one of the goals of the PBBM administration is to achieve genuine and lasting peace, meaningful autonomy, and inclusive development in the region. With continued support from our development partners, like Japan and JICA, and our people, I believe BARMM can win the gold of lasting peace and prosperity, contributing to the overall stability and development of our Bagong Pilipinas, and improving the quality of life of our kababayans.

(Amenah F. Pangandaman is the Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management.)